Coach Search Options after Autry

[RF2044]

I trust Melo and JB in that I believe they have the best interest of the program at heart. I don’t trust other big donors with no connection to basketball inserting themselves into basketball affairs for the first time. If the administration opts to go with Hopper, backed by a large coalition of donors and stakeholders, then let’s ride!!!!’ Hop 2027!!!!!

I don't.

We have recent evidence to suggest that JB had his OWN best interests in mind, and acted accordingly.

I don't think altruism was demonstrated when he was forced to step down -- at all. In fact, the threat of him NOT acting in the best interests of the University / basketball program was one of the reasons we're in this predicament now.

 

[powdersmack]

555%? So the average assistant makes less than zero? Or you using Trump math?

 

[MSOrange]

I don't.

We have recent evidence to suggest that JB had his OWN best interests in mind, and acted accordingly.

I don't think altruism was demonstrated when he was forced to step down -- at all. In fact, the threat of him NOT acting in the best interests of the University / basketball program was one of the reasons we're in this predicament now.

 

[sufan59]

I have an idea, we pay Hodgson 2 million a year to be Hopkins AHC and instills the Oats offensive system and he takes over when Kiyan graduates? Good compromise?

 

[hoopsupstate]

Just received a reply from Wildhack. Based on his reply - which I won't share here - I have some hope that we may avoid the doomsday scenarios.

Great news. Shertz must be finally coming around to his senses

 

[orangepassion]

Ask Georgetown fans how they're feeling about the job Cooley has done with a $10m+ roster this year.

I actually heard Patrick Ewing is one of the NBA guys paying to get Hop here.


:0

 

[dwilmont44]

If you could guarantee the money would get Syracuse 1st in the ACC and at least a Final Four it would be hard to turn down.

But college basketball is so high variance nothing is ever guaranteed. Better to have a long period of sustained success and maybe we can build the funds up to go all in when we have a solid base.

 

[Cappy3]

Actually it got him a great extension and they canned him a few years later because they couldn’t afford the buyout

They fired him because they couldn’t afford the buyout? I thought his pathetic record might have been the reason. The buyout was why he lasted as long as he did!

 

[5OutFred]

Just received a reply from Wildhack. Based on his reply - which I won't share here - I have some hope that we may avoid the doomsday scenarios.

I implore others to do the same - Wildhack, while having a pulse of the fanbase, isn't sitting around sourcing message boards (anymore). This fanbase is the program; make yourselves heard.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

I'm going to break this down, beacuse I think you are right. But let's see. Here are the teams Siena has beaten this year, with their 2025-2026 record to date:

Bryant 8-19
Brown 9-15
Albany 10-18
Holy Cross 10-19
Longwood 15-15
American 16-13
Maine 7-21
Niagara 7-21 -beat them twice
Canisus 9-20 -beat them twice
Rider 4-23
Mt. Saint Mary's 14-15
Manhattan 12-17
Fairfield 18-11
Marist 18-10 -beat them twice
Iona - 16-13
St Peter's 15-11

I stand corrected about it only being one team. Still...

Fortunately, no one is on the GMAC train. Gerry's good, but not ready yet to go P4 dancing. They have a respectable net of 188 and only two MAAC schools are better than that. And, for reference, Cuse 77, USF 52, SLU ( I believe before their last loss) 24.

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[phil77]

Who knew Melo was an old, white guy?

Outside of Syracuse, I wonder how much college basketball Melo watched this year? I mean, he is the expert making the coaching hire, so I imagine he has gone through hours of tape and watched all the up-and-coming coaches to give Syracuse the best coaching hire he could. He can tell me what kind of offensive and defensive systems everyone runs etc. I am sure he has done this homework.

And his homework led him to Hopkins, a coach who was fired from his P4 job with a .527 winning percentage and the tournament only once in 6 years despite multiple NBA players on his roster. That coach was so heavily thought of in the college ranks, he didn't get another job, so he went to be an assistant NBA coach where that NBA team was awful and then was let go from that position and now is in charge of player development for a losing team. After doing a national search, Melo said yes man, that is the guy for sure to lead Syracuse. I know it.

 

[Cappy3]

Yup. Except we are not talking about a reduction. If I make $100 (close) and you make 555% more than me, do you make nothing?

So you’re saying the average assistant coach makes less than 100,000? Not in power 4 conferences.

 

[RedtheGOB]

i don’t know fellas. I’m at crossgates in Albany at the Apex Arcade for a kids bday party.

Gmac is on the TVs here and a big time sponsor. I’m not sure we can afford to get him back.

 

[Consigliere]

we significantly increased the budget for football assts and also added budget for additional staff.

Yes, but why don’t they spend some of that $50MM surplus that Athletics just sits on every year. Because they’re CHEAP!

Sorry. Can’t find the sarcasm font.

 

[RF2044]

Fortunately, no one is on the GMAC train. Gerry's good, but not ready yet to go P4 dancing. They have a respectable net of 188 and only two MAAC schools are better than that. And, for reference, Cuse 77, USF 52, SLU ( I believe before their last loss) 24.

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Get NCAA college basketball rankings from the Associated Press, USA Today Coaches poll and the NCAA NET Rankings.

www.ncaa.com

Agreed.

Kudos to Gerry for getting to 19 wins, with a couple of games left to go.

But as you point out, this record has context -- and I think some are only looking at the win total and interpreting through that lens only.

 

[sufan59]

Think of this from the Mike Hopkins standpoint. He probably thought his time in College Basketball was done after an unsuccessful Washington stint which he took and probably thought he sacrificed any chance of being the successor at Syracuse that he was named for and being prepared for. Then one day, Melo approaches you and is like I am going to tell the board to make you the head coach and give you 30 plus million dollars, hopefully approaching 40 to 45 million when it's all said in done to build a roster over the course of two years. We need major cushions people.

 

[Fly Rodder]

You are entitled to your opinion. Others are entitled to theirs. Time will sort of tell.

Yup. And the basketball alums and family have had their way for the last decade plus. JAB avoided any fallout from the NCAA infractions, got to play family ball, coach well past his prime and get one of his assistants the head coaching job. Then after two lackluster seasons, they all got together and said, wait, wait, no, we'll fix it. So they gave Red a bunch of money and the team still failed to meet expectations. So, in light of the last decade of decisions that they've campaigned for, their next bright idea is yet another family coach and giving him lots of money.

When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. At some point, things need to be decided on merits. And the basketball alumni JAB circle of trust hasn't exactly crowned themselves in glory. Here or elsewhere. So, they are entitled to their opinion, but based on results, their opinion should be valued about as well as mine.

 

[CuseFan]

Or we have no lives…

both could be true

 

[kjb120]

Hodgson is company/stock with a lot of potential. Hopkins is basically throwing money at a failed start up . Oh well

Oh well sums it up perfectly, the admin and school are not serious about winning why should fans care.

 

[CuseTroop]

I'm on page 182 with no end in sight.
Seriously guys, I'm currently in a non legal state. I'm gonna run out of pot wayyy before I get caught up on this thread. Either help me find a connection in Fort Myers, or hire a basketball coach already

 

[cliftonparksufan]

I implore others to do the same - Wildhack, while having a pulse of the fanbase, isn't sitting around sourcing message boards (anymore). This fanbase is the program; make yourselves heard.

Yup, I emailed him a few weeks ago and received a response in 15 minutes. However, he's got a lot on his plate, so I appreciate the quick response, but hopefully he's not just sitting around answering mail from every townie with a smart phone.

 

[VikesCuse84]

Yup, I emailed him a few weeks ago and received a response in 15 minutes. However, he's got a lot on his plate, so I appreciate the quick response, but hopefully he's not just sitting around answering mail from every townie with a smart phone.

Well… what did he say!?

 

[sufan59]

If Hopkins gets the support that's being mentioned in this thread and it keeps going up. I give up, this is some unprecedented stuff. Like

Have personal backup plans in mind in case this fails and you want a new team to follow or new hobbies. Enjoy the ride in the meantime I guess lol.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Outside of Syracuse, I wonder how much college basketball Melo watched this year? I mean, he is the expert making the coaching hire, so I imagine he has gone through hours of tape and watched all the up-and-coming coaches to give Syracuse the best coaching hire he could. He can tell me what kind of offensive and defensive systems everyone runs etc. I am sure he has done this homework.

And his homework led him to Hopkins, a coach who was fired from his P4 job with a .527 winning percentage and the tournament only once in 6 years despite multiple NBA players on his roster. That coach was so heavily thought of in the college ranks, he didn't get another job, so he went to be an assistant NBA coach where that NBA team was awful and then was let go from that position and now is in charge of player development for a losing team. After doing a national search, Melo said yes man, that is the guy for sure to lead Syracuse. I know it.

There’s no way Melo is watching college basketball. He’s got an NBC job dedicated to the NBA.

 

[sweetpea]

Does Hodgson know how to navigate the complexities with the Dome being multi purpose with Football, Lacrosse, and Women's Basketball. Potentially having to wait till gameday to do walkthroughs. Hopkins does. This is another argument in the pro Hopkins camp. Doesn't the away team also deal with this when they come to play us?

My daughter also reminded me that Hop knows our Syracuse weather here as well. No need to remind people that Hodgson in from Western New York.